Frank Makoza

The Livelihood Outcomes of ICT Use in Microenterprises: The Case of South Africa

This study is premised on the understanding that microenterprises play an important role in the socio‐economic development of developing countries. Using the case of South Africa, this paper reports on a study of the impact of using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on the livelihoods of microenterprises in a developing country context. The study used qualitative data gathered through in‐depth interviews, observations, documentary review and field notes. The findings of the study confirm that ICT use has a positive impact on the livelihoods of microenterprises. However, it was noted that ICT use in microenterprises is often curtailed by challenges beyond access and ownership of ICT. Chief among the challenges is the lack of awareness of ICT use in business activities. The study also investigated whether embedding ICT support within a business support programme would improve the chances and quality of appropriation. It was noted that the strategy did not always yield positive outcomes.

Critical Mass of Women Legislators and Oversight for National ICT Policy of Malawi

Thisarticleanalyseshowtherepresentationofwomenlegislatorsmayaffecttheoversightofnational ICTpolicy.ThearticleusesCriticalMassTheory(CMT)toexplainthecompositionoftheMediaand CommunicationsCommittee(MCC)ofparliament.ThecaseofMalawiisanalysed,whichrepresented alow-incomeeconomyinAfrica.Thearticleuseselectoralreportsandlegislativedocuments.The resultsshowthatwomenlegislatorsintheMCCachievedacriticalmassdespitethedecreaseinthe representationofwomeninparliament.Thewomenlegislatorshavetheopportunitytosupportgender issuesrelatedtoICTlegislationsandnationalICTpolicyoversight.However,thefunctionsofMCC relatedtonationalICTpolicyoversightwerenotalignedwiththegenderequitystrategies.Thismay affectthepriorityofgenderissuesinthepolicyoversight.Thearticlecontributestowardsliterature onnationalICTpolicyoversightinthecontextofdevelopingcountries. KEyWORdS Critical Mass Theory, Malawi, National ICT Policy, Policy Oversight

Analysing barriers in the implementation of national ICT policy: Case of Malawi

Despite having national Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policies formulated and written down, African countries are facing barriers in implementing the policy declarations. This study builds on previous studies that have looked at barriers in the whole policy cycle. Using an in-depth case of Malawi, the study analysed barriers in the policy implementation phase of national ICT policy. Data for the study comprised of semi-structured interviews and policy documents which was analysed using thematic analysis. The results showed that there were barriers related to policy programs, processes, and politics. The programs barriers included inadequate resources, operational problems and differences in interests among policy actors. Process barriers were the lack of legal frameworks and political stability and legitimate policy choices. Political constraints were lack of policy championing, conflicts in goals and values assigned to policy priorities; and government popularity. The study provides insights on ICT policy implementation barriers in the context of a low-income status country.

Cross-national policy learning on ICT policy implementation: case of Malawi

This paper presents an analysis of policy learning on the national ICT policy implementation between Malawi and Rwanda. The study used qualitative data from key informants and policy documents to highlight the exchange of knowledge between two African countries. The findings showed Malawi learnt from Rwanda on institutional arrangements and local human capacity development on the national ICT policy implementation. Institutional settings were important in establishing the roles of policy implementation agencies. Other lessons were about the need for political will and strengthening ICT investment partnerships. The study addresses part of the paucity of studies on policy learning in the context of developing countries.

Ex-Post Stakeholder Analysis of National ICT Policy Subsystem: Case of Malawi

This paper presents an analysis of stakeholders of the national Information and Communication Technology ICT policy subsystem using the Advocacy Coalition Framework ACF. The study focused on the context of a developing country, Malawi, which was analysed using qualitative data gathered through semi-structured interviews and policy documents. The findings showed there was diversity in the stakeholders for national ICT policy who were engaged in different roles of the policy process despite being a unitary policy subsystem. The stakeholders included officials from government departments, donors, academia, private sector organisations, the media, law enforcement agents and telecom operators. Some of the roles of the stakeholders were related to policy formulation, implementation, regulation, ICT investment, and support. The study contributes towards the literature of national ICT policy in the context of developing countries. A further study is recommended to consider the interests of informal stakeholders not represented in the national ICT policy subsystem.

An Exploratory Study on Policy Transfer for SIM Card Registration in Malawi

Majority of African countries have adopted policies for mandatory Subscriber Identifiable Module SIM card registration to mitigate security threats to citizens and society. However, there are few countries that have not yet adopted the mandatory SIM card registration policies. This study investigated the means through which SIM card registration policy may be transferred in countries without the policy. The context of Malawi was analysed which represented an ideal case of an African country without mandatory SIM card registration policy. The findings showed that the mandatory SIM card registration policy may be transferred through: a voluntary transfer to address local challenges related to mobile technologies b coercive transfer in response to meet international agreements. However, lack of national identification documents for mobile phone users and delays in implementing legal framework affected the transfer of the mandatory SIM Card registration in Malawi. It will be necessary to consider of social, economic and political factors when adopting the mandatory SIM card registration policy.

Interaction Patterns and ICT Use to Support the Livelihoods of Microenterprises

This paper reports on the nature of interaction patterns and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to support the livelihood of microenterprises. The study focused on the case of South Africa where Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) act as a means for addressing unemployment and poverty. The study used qualitative data to understand the interaction patterns and how ICT such as computers, mobile phones and internet are used to support the livelihoods of microenterprises. The findings showed that vertical and horizontal interactions supported the flow of information and sharing of knowledge used in decisions for reducing vulnerabilities in the livelihoods of microenterprises. ICT were improving the interactions that supported the livelihoods of microenterprises. The study recommends use of existing social networks for microenterprises when designing interventions for supporting microenterprises.